Gang of five storm Dubai jewellery store, steal jewels worth $408,385

'Masked robbers' have gone on trial

Image used for illustrative purposes. Josephine Johnson, manager of Rio Tinto's Argyle Pink Diamonds, holds the Argyle 'Phoenix' red diamond, one of the world's rarest gems, during a private viewing at a Sydney hotel May 17, 2013. The Phoenix, which could fetch several million dollars, is included in the 2013 Argyle Diamond collection, named after Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia where they were found. The entire collection of 64 red, pink, dark gray-blue, orangy-pink and purple-coloured diamonds, totalling 54.99 carats, is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars, according to Rio Tinto. REUTERS/David Gray

REUTERS/David Gray

Marie Nammour,
Khaleej Times

A gang of five Afghans are charged with armed forced robbery in Dubai and stealing jewellery worth millions from a jewellery shop.

The gang stood trialon Tuesdayin the Court of First Instance for allegedly storming a jewellery shop and robbed Dh1.5 million worth of jewellery.

The five men, including two at large, were wearing masks when they allegedly pepper-sprayed the shop staff and threatened them with knives, forcing them to run into the washroom. The staff of the shop - located in the International City - remained in the toilet while the thieves took whatever they could before fleeing the place.

The case dates back toJuly 12.

"We caught the three men on trial after we followed leads they were involved in the robbery of the shop," a police lieutenant said.

"They admitted to having planned the robbery and purchasing sports clothes, masks, gloves, knives and pepper-spray for that purpose. They had also visited the shop to survey it, prior to the incident.

"They admitted to entering the shop wearing masks, except for one, who stayed in the car to keep a watch".

The lieutenant told the prosecutor: "The accused confessed they managed to rob jewellery worth Dh1.5 m at knifepoint after attacking the staff with pepper spray and locking some of them in the washroom.

"They then went to Jebel Ali where they disposed off the clothes and the tools, before they went to Al Ain where they split the stolen jewellery".

Part of the jewellery was seized from the three men, all drivers, aged between 25 and 35.